Tower of Power: Step Up

On March 20, 2020, “Mack Avenue Records” label released “Step Up”, the 22nd Tower of Power album. It was recorded over the course of the 2010s, at “Blue Moon” in Los Angeles, “Track Shack” in Sacramento, and was produced by Joe Vannelli and Emilio Castillo.

Personnel:

  • Emilio Castillo – lead and backing vocals, tenor saxophone
  • Roger Smith – lead vocals, keyboards, Hammond B3 organ
  • Jerry Cortez – guitars, electric sitar, backing vocals
  • Marcus Scott – lead and backing vocals
  • Ray Greene – lead and backing vocals, trombone
  • Joe Vannelli – keyboards, auxiliary percussion, vibes, marimba
  • Tom E. Politzer – alto and tenor saxophone
  • Stephen “Doc” Kupka – baritone saxophone
  • Chuck Hansen – bass saxophone
  • Adolfo Acosta – trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Sal Cracchiolo – trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Francis Rocco Prestia – bass guitar
  • David Garibaldi – drums
  • Leah Meux – backing vocals
  • Tiwana Porter – backing vocals
  • Melanie Jackson – backing vocals
  • Dave Eskridge – horn and string arrangements

Track listing:

  1. East Bay, All the Way! – David Garibaldi, Francis Rocco Prestia, Roger Smith, Jerry Cortez
  2. Step Up – Emilio Castillo, Roger Smith
  3. The Story of You and I – Emilio Castillo, Stephen Kupka
  4. Who Would Have Thought – Stephen Kupka, Nick Lane, Lamont Van Hook
  5. Addicted to You – Emilio Castillo, Sydney Justin
  6. Look in My Eyes – Francis Rocco Prestia, Thomas William Schuman, Kevin Henry Whalum
  7. You da One – Francis Rocco Prestia, Thomas William Schuman, Sennie Rudolph Martin
  8. Sleeping with You Baby – Emilio Castillo, Stephen Kupka
  9. If It’s Tea Give Me Coffee – Stephen Kupka, William Ross
  10. Beyond My Wildest Dreams – Bruce Conte
  11. Any Excuse Will Do – Emilio Castillo, Stephen Kupka, Lenny Pickett
  12. If You Wanna Be a Winner – Emilio Castillo, David Garibaldi, Francis Rocco Prestia, Roger Smith, Jerry Cortez
  13. Let’s Celebrate Our Love – Emilio Castillo, Mark Dolin
  14. East Bay! Oaktown All the Way! – David Garibaldi, Francis Rocco Prestia, Roger Smith, Jerry Cortez

Daniel Lanois: Heavy Sun

On March 19, 2021, “Maker Series” label released “Heavy Sun”, the 20th Daniel Lanois album. It was recorded in 2020, and was produced by Daniel Lanois and Wayne Lorenz.

Personnel:

  • Daniel Lanois – vocal, guitar, bass, keyboards, cover art
  • Mary Shepherd – vocals
  • Rocco DeLuca – vocals
  • Jim Wilson – guitar, bass
  • Chris Thomas – keyboards, bass
  • Kyle Crane – drums
  • Brian Blade – drums
  • Noah Mintz – mastering
  • Adam CK Vollick – art processing
  • Marthe A. Vannebo – design

Track listing:

  1. Dance On
  2. Power
  3. Every Nation
  4. Way Down
  5. Please Don’t Try
  6. Tree of Tule
  7. Tumbling Stone
  8. Angels Watching
  9. (Under the) Heavy Sun
  10. Mother’s Eye
  11. Out of Sight

Lana Del Rey: Chemtrails Over the Country Club

On March 19, 2021, “Interscope” and “Polydor” labels released “Chemtrails Over the Country Club”, the seventh Lana Del Rey studio album. It was produced 2015 – 2016, 2019 – 2020, at “Conway” in Los Angeles, “Electric Lady” in New York City, and was produced by Lana Del Rey, Rick Nowels and Jack Antonoff.

Personnel:

  • Lana Del Rey – vocals
  • Jack Antonoff – piano, guitar, bass, Mellotron, keyboards, twelve-string acoustic guitar, acoustic and electric guitar, slide guitar, synthesizers, Model B synth-bass, Hammond B3, organ, Rhodes, drums, percussion, programming
  • Rick Nowels – acoustic guitar, keyboards, Mellotron, bass
  • Mikey Freedom Hart – pedal steel, piano, guitar, Mellotron
  • Aaron Sterling – drums, percussion
  • Evan Smith – horns, accordion 
  • Daniel Heath – strings
  • Trevor Yasuda – sound effects
  • Nikki Lane – additional vocals
  • Weyes Blood – additional vocals
  • Zella Day – additional vocals 
  • Laura Sisk – engineer, mixing 
  • Kieron Menzies – engineer, mixing
  • Dean Reid – engineer, mixing 
  • Trevor Yasuda – engineer
  • John Fee – engineer
  • John Rooney – engineer assistant 
  • Jon Sher – engineer assistant
  • Jack Antonoff – mixing 
  • Chris Gehringer – mastering
  • Will Quinnell – mastering assistant

Track listing:

All tracks by Lana Del Rey and Jack Antonoff, except where noted.

  1. White Dress
  2. Chemtrails Over the Country Club
  3. Tulsa Jesus Freak
  4. Let Me Love You Like a Woman
  5. Wild at Heart
  6. Dark but Just a Game
  7. Not All Who Wander Are Lost
  8. Yosemite – Lana Del Rey, Rick Nowels
  9. Breaking Up Slowly – Lana Del Rey, Nikki Lane
  10. Dance Till We Die
  11. For Free – Joni Mitchell

Jon Batiste: We Are

On March 19, 2021, “Verve” label released “We Are”, the eighth Jon Batiste album. It was recorded 2019 – 2020, and was produced by Kizzo, Jon Batiste and David Pimentel.

Personnel:

  • Jon Batiste – vocals, Fender jazz bass, keyboards, mellotron, Moog bass, piano, strings, theremin
  • David Gauthier – vocals
  • Braedon Gautier – vocals
  • Gospel Soul Children – vocals
  • Tori Kelly – vocals
  • Zadie Smith – vocals
  • PJ Morton – vocals
  • Emily King – vocals
  • Autumn Rowe – vocals
  • Mavis Staples – spoken word
  • Robert Randolph – pedal steel guitar
  • Steve McEwan – acoustic guitar
  • Louis Cato – guitar
  • Joe Saylor – tambourine
  • Cory Wong – guitar
  • Sam Yahel – organ
  • Craig Adams – organ, conductor
  • Endea Owens – double bass
  • Steve Jordan – drums
  • David Pimentel – drums, recording
  • Nate Smith – drums
  • St. Augustine High School Marching 100 – brass band
  • Hot 8 Brass Band – brass band
  • Trombone Shorty – trombone
  • Michelle Ross – violin
  • Russell Elevado – recording
  • Misha Kachkachishvili – recording
  • Kizzo – recording
  • Alex Williams – recording
  • Marc Whitmore – recording, mixing
  • Manny Marroquin – mixing
  • Ricky Reed – mixing
  • Michelle Mancini – mastering
  • Karla Cordova – album art
  • Suleika Jaouad – photography
  • Quincy Jones – liner notes
  • Ryan Lynn – co executive producer

Track listing:

All tracks by Jon Batiste, except where noted.

  1. We Are – Jon Batiste, Kizzo, Autumn Rowe
  2. Tell the Truth
  3. Cry – Jon Batiste, Steve McEwan
  4. I Need You – Jon Batiste, Autumn Rowe
  5. Whatchutatalkinbout
  6. Boy Hood – Troy Andrews, Jon Batiste, Sunny Levine, PJ Morton, Jahaan Sweet
  7. Maovement 11
  8. Adulthood
  9. Mavis – Mavis Staple
  10. Freedom – Jon Batiste, Autumn Rowe, Andrae A;expander
  11. Show Me the Way
  12. Sing – Jon Batiste, Zach Cooper, Vic Dimotsis, Eric Frederic, Autumn Rowe
  13. Until

Aerosmith: Nine Lives

On March 18, 1997, “Columbia” label released “Nine Lives”, the twelfth Aerosmith studio album. It was recorded September – November 1996, at “Avatar” in New York City, “The Boneyard” (Joe Perry’s home studio, and was produced by Kevin Shirley, Joe Perry, Steven Tyler, Brad Whitford, Tom Hamilton and Joey Kramer.

Personnel:

  • Steven Tyler – lead vocals, keyboards, hand organ, piano, harmonica, hammer dulcimer, percussion, horn arrangements, engineer
  • Joe Perry – guitar, slide guitar, dulcimer, backing vocals, engineer
  • Brad Whitford – acoustic and electric guitar
  • Tom Hamilton – bass guitar, Chapman Stick
  • Joey Kramer – drums
  • John Webster – keyboards, backing vocals
  • Ramesh Mishra – sarangi
  • Sander Selover – programming
  • David Campbell – string and horn arrangements, conductor
  • Suzie Katayama – strings, conductor
  • Elliot Scheiner, Kevin Shirley – engineer, mixing
  • Mark Hudson, Rory Romano – engineer
  • Leon Zervos – mastering
  • David Frangioni – production engineer
  • Christopher Austopchuk, Gail Marowitz – art direction, photography
  • Jeanne Greco – calligraphy
  • F. Scott Schafer – photography

Track listing:

  1. Nine Lives – Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Marti Frederiksen
  2. Falling in Love (Is Hard on the Knees) – Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Glen Ballard
  3. Hole in My Soul – Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Desmond Child
  4. Taste of India – Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Glen Ballard
  5. Full Circle – Steven Tyler, Taylor Rhodes
  6. Something’s Gotta Give – Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Marti Frederiksen
  7. Ain’t That a Bitch – Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Desmond Child
  8. The Farm – Steven Tyler, Mark Hudson, Steve Dudas
  9. Crash – Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Mark Hudson, Dominic Miler
  10. Kiss Your Past Goodbye – Steven Tyler, Mark Hudson
  11. Pink – Steven Tyler, Richard Supa, Glen Ballard
  12. Attitude Adjustment – Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Marti Fredeiksen
  13. Fallen Angels – Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Richard Supa

James Brown: Plays New Breed

In March 1966, “Smash” label released “James Brown Plays New Breed (The Boo-Ga-Loo)”, the twelfth James Brown studio album. It was recorded in 1966, and was produced by James Brown.

Personnel:

  • James Brown – vocal, keyboards, organ
  • Bob Prokop – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by James Brown and Nat Jones, except where noted.

  1. New Breed
  2. Slow Walk – Sil Austin
  3. Vonshella
  4. Fat Bag
  5. Jabo
  6. Lost in the Mood of Changes
  7. All About My Girl
  8. Hooks
  9. Sumpin’ Else

Larry Young: Into Somethin’

In March 1965, “Blue Note” label released “Into Somethin’”, the fourth Larry Young album. It was recorded in November 1964, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Alfred Lion.

Personnel:

  • Larry Young – organ
  • Grant Green – guitar
  • Sam Rivers – tenor saxophone
  • Elvin Jones – drums

Track listing:

All tracks by Larry Young, except where noted.

  1. Tyrone
  2. Plaza De Toros – Grant Green
  3. Paris Eyes
  4. Backup
  5. Ritha

Conor Oberst: Salutations

On March 17, 2017, “Nonesuch” label released “Salutations”, the eighth Conor Oberst studio album. It was recorded 2016 – 2017, and was produced by Jim Keltner and Conor Oberst.

Personnel:

  • Conor Oberst – vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, piano, Wurlitzer, harmonica
  • Jonathan Wilson – guitar, piano, synthesizer
  • Ian Felice – electric guitar, backing vocals
  • M. Ward – guitar
  • James Felice – piano, organ, Wurlitzer, accordion, backing vocals
  • Blake Mills – acoustic and electric guitar, baritone guitar, guitarrón
  • Josh Rawson – bass, backing vocals
  • Gus Seyffert – bass
  • Jim Keltner – drums, percussion
  • Greg Farley – violin, backing vocals
  • Daphne Chen – violin
  • Eric Gorfain – violin
  • Leah Katz – viola
  • Richard Dodd – cello
  • Pearl Charles – backing vocals
  • Jim James – backing vocals
  • Andy LeMaster – backing vocals
  • Maria Taylor – backing vocals
  • Gillian Welch – backing vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by Conor Oberst, except where noted.

  1. Too Late to Fixate
  2. Gossamer Thin
  3. Overdue – Conor Oberst, James Felice
  4. Afterthought
  5. Next of Kin
  6. Napalm
  7. Mamah Borthwick (A Sketch)
  8. Till St. Dymphna Kicks Us Out
  9. Barbary Coast (Later)
  10. Tachycardia
  11. Empty Hotel by the Sea
  12. Anytime Soon – Conor Oberst, Jonathan Rice, Taylor Goldsmith, Jonathan Wilson
  13. Counting Sheep
  14. The Rain Follows the Plow
  15. You All Loved Him Once
  16. A Little Uncanny
  17. Salutations

Sara Hickman: Two Kinds of Laughter

On March 17, 1998, “Shanachie Records” label released “Two Kinds of Laughter”, the seventh Sara Hickman album. It was recorded in 1997, and was produced by Adrian Belew.

  • Sara Hickman – vocal, guitar
  • Adrian Belew – guitar
  • Ken Latchney – engineer

Track listing:

All tracks by Sara Hickman, except where noted.

  1. Two Kinds of Laughter
  2. Take Whatever I Can Get – Goldsen, Sara Hickman
  3. I Wear the Crown – Sara Hickman, Trevisick
  4. Coolness by Mistake – Brion, Sara Hickman
  5. Eight
  6. Secret Family
  7. Look at It This Way – Boyd, Sara Hickman
  8. Optimistic Fool – Sara Hickman, Jacobsen
  9. One in Our Happiness – Sara Hickman, Lester
  10. E Cosi Desio Me Mena – Sara Hickman, Lester
  11. Comets over Costa Rica – Sara Hickman, Trevisick
  12. Let Go – Tiven

The Decemberists: I’ll Be Your Girl

On March 16, 2018, “Rough Trade” and “Capitol” labels released “I’ll Be Your Girl”, the eighth Decemberists (The) studio album. It was recorded 2017 – 2018, and was produced by John Congleton.

Personnel:

  • Colin Meloy – vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, backing vocals
  • Chris Funk – acoustic and electric guitar, banjo, bouzouki, mandolin, synthesizer, backing vocals
  • Jenny Conlee – accordion, organ, piano, synthesizer, vibraphone, backing vocals
  • Nate Query – cello, electric bass, upright bass, backing vocals
  • John Moen – drums, percussion. backing vocals
  • Mikaela Davis – harp
  • Gaelynn Lea – violin
  • Kelly Hogan – backing vocals
  • Nora O’Connor – backing vocals
  • Birch Query – choir
  • Eleanor Laurie – choir
  • Finn Query – choir
  • Louise Moen – choir
  • Max Markewitz – choir
  • Mina Greenberg Motamedi – choir
  • Sabrina Montgomery – choir
  • Satchel Laurie – choir
  • Scout Funk – choir vocals
  • John Congleton – recording, mixing
  • Adam Lee – recording assistant, mixing assistant, studio personnel
  • Greg Calbi – studio personnel

Track listing:

All tracks by Colin Meloy, except where noted.

  1. Once in My Life – Georgia Hubley, Ira Kaplan, Colin Meloy
  2. Cutting Stone
  3. Severed
  4. Starwatcher
  5. Tripping Along
  6. You Ghost
  7. Everything is Awful
  8. Sucker’s Prayer
  9. We All Die Young
  10. Rusalka, Rusalka / Wild Rushes
  11. I’ll Be Your Girl